Description: Lectors Process to the Altar at the beginning of Mass. They proclaim God’s Word aloud to the congregation during Mass. Before and after Mass, they can be found greeting people as they enter and leave the church in order to create a welcoming, friendly atmosphere. As a minister who is visible, and approachable, they should be ready to help newcomers they meet, and invite them to register with the parish.

Purpose: To proclaim the Word of God during sacred liturgy in a way that will nourish the spirit, and bring true life to God’s people.

Person best suited: Those who love to read and study scripture in a way that brings them closer to God. The closeness and understanding that comes from knowing scripture are what helps a lector bring God’s Word to life for the congregation. It is important to have a clear speaking voice, and to be at ease while speaking before a large group of listeners. It is also important to be dependable and punctual.

Time Commitment: A lector will read at about one Mass every four to six weeks. Scheduling is done by the Parish Office. There is annual training that lasts about 1.5 hours. It is important for all lectors of our parish to follow the same procedure. These have been approved so they do not detract from the rest of the liturgy. Also, members of our parish will feel familiar with our procedures no matter which Mass they usually attend. This will enhance the feeling of a parish community across all the different mass times.
Each lector must prepare for reading. They must practice reading out loud to be familiar with the pronunciations, voice changes, phrasing, and enhancing the message for the listeners. The passage being practiced often contains a reference to older scripture.
It is important to read this reference, or from the section of the bible just prior to or after the passage being practiced in order to have a sense of the context.

It is also important that every lector lives the Word of God in all areas of their life. They will be looked upon as an example because the ministry they are part of is very visible during Mass.

Our parish needs several lectors for every Mass time slot. Having a variety of lectors keeps the voice of our liturgy fresh, dynamic and appealing to a diverse group of preferences. Those interested in becoming a lector must audition, and be approved by Fr. Tom. Please start by contacting the leader of the lector Ministry or the Church Office.

The Leader of Mary Help of Christian’s Lector Ministry is John Tucker. He may be contacted by email at jtucker@meihealthcare.com or through the church office.